Alan Woods' speaking tour in Venezuela is getting wide publicity
coverage as this Bolivarian News Agency report demonstrates. Here the report is
on a meeting with oil workers in the PDVSA building in Maturín, Monagas state.
It was published under the title "British theoretician: Bolivarian revolution a
source of international inspiration."

British writer Alan Woods described the Bolivarian
revolution led by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez Frías, as a great source of
inspiration to the world.

The leader of the International Marxist Tendency and
renowned Marxist theoretician, author of the book Reformism or Revolution.
Marxism and Socialism of the 21st Century, explained that the
importance of the Venezuelan process is due the historical moment in which it
started.

Woods was in Maturín, Monagas state, as a speaker on this
subject, in a meeting which took place in the hall of PDVSA, organised by the
Socialist Front of Socialist Oil Workers.

"After the fall of Stalinism, of the Soviet Union, when
there was an avalanche of slanders against socialism, against Marxism, against
communism, finally there was a man, like Hugo Chávez, who had the necessary
courage to raise again the need for socialism as the only solution to the
problems that humanity faces today", he said.

He stressed the fact that the president has opened a debate
about the building of socialism, which is very important, not only in narrow
intellectual university circles, but at all levels of society, with the
participation of the rank and file.

The British theoretician warned, at the same time, about
sections which, being far removed from the ideas of the president, are
promoting mere reformism in Venezuela, which he said was a danger for the
Bolivarian revolution, which is at a crossroads.

"My book is a modest contribution to the ideological battle
against the ideas of revisionism and reformism which act as a Fifth Column
within the revolutionary movement, to limit its aims to the narrow confines of
capitalism; these sectors want to put the brakes on the revolution", he warned.

The writer recommended radical action, "The people want
radical changes. There is a flashing red warning light; the people are
demanding that action must be taken. You cannot leave a revolution half-way,
and this revolution must be taken to socialism".

Woods pointed out that the Venezuelan revolution needs a
bold programme of workers' power and the expropriation of the big capitalists
and landowners, "because the sabotage of these sections creates a very
dangerous situation for the revolution".

He warned that there cannot be socialism while oligarchic
and capitalist sectors continue to own the land and industries.

He also insisted on the marvellous example of the masses
which are ready to fight, and he said that "the last word of guarantee of
victory of the revolution, belongs to the people, the peasants, the workers,
the rank and file".

Woods, at the same time, is confident that the rank and file
will follow this process of building socialism led by Hugo Chávez and will stop
any plans of reformism.

"We are also convinced that the rank and file will turn the
United Socialist Party of Venezuela into a useful tool for the transformation
of society," he added.